The peace treaty signed in Sudan this month ended 21 years of armed conflict. But according to the UN Millennium Project's Task Force on Science, Technology and Innovation, promoting peace and prosperity will require more than signing agreements — developing and strengthening technology-based trade with the rest of the world will be essential.

In this article in Kenya's Daily Nation newspaper, Calestous Juma, a coordinator of the UN task force, argues that most serious conflicts arise from disputes about land, commodities or natural resources – such as diamonds in Sierra Leone or oil in Sudan – that drive the economies of countries that own them.

Juma says that African countries should focus on strengthening their economies through science and technology — finding solutions to agricultural or health problems, for instance — instead of relying solely on their raw materials.

Africa's integration into the global economy will be also important, he adds, as regional cooperation will be central to promoting peace in the region.